The South African took over the job in June 2011 and helped the team become the top-ranked Test nation in 2012.

"I was blessed to have worked with the best bowling attack in the world over a four-year period and leave with fond memories and experiences," Donald was quoted as saying by bbc.com on Tuesday.

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He took 330 wickets in 72 Tests and 272 wickets in 164 One-Day-International.

"It's never easy to lose a legend from your ranks but we respect Allan's decision in the knowledge that we will seek his involvement in our cricket programmes in the future," Haroon Lorgat, Cricket South Africa's (CSA) chief executive said on Tuesday.

South Africa reached the semi-finals of the cricket World Cup in March.

"I have had some time to reflect after the World Cup and have come to the conclusion that the time is right to move on," Donald said.

"The last four years have been the best of my life and being involved with the Proteas in the 2015 Cricket World Cup was a goal I had set my sights on," the 48-year-old said.

CSA said it would appoint a replacement in due course, with a Test and limited-overs tour of Bangladesh scheduled in July.